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Thursday, September 6

Looking Back

Last week I read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. It's about a woman--Alice--who wakes up after a fall off an exercise bike thinking it's ten years ago. She has no memory of having her children--she was pregnant with her first child ten years ago--or how she became a fit, health-conscious mom. And especially she has no memory of why she and her husband are involved in a bitter divorce because all of her memories are of being happily married.

The book is simply wonderful. One of those reads that just suck you in with a great character.

But what I want to talk about is how it made me think. If I woke up and I thought I was back in 2002, would I be happy with what my life had become in the ten years that I forgot? Am I where I thought I'd be ten years ago?

I can honestly say that I'm in a better place than I imagined ten years ago. Ten years ago, my husband and I owned a mobile home that was beginning to fall down around us and I had no hope of ever getting out of it. I ran a home daycare and always thought I could never work outside the home because I'd been working inside it for so long and hadn't developed a lot skills.

In 2012, my husband and I own a house--yes, a real house--with a yard that desperately needs mowed, but still a house. I'm an assistant manager with a major retail chain and make a good living. I'm editing and shopping a manuscript that I'm really proud of. My daughters are happy--most of the time--and caring individuals. And I'm still happily married to the man I met when I was 20. Plus I'm 30+ pounds lighter than I was then--getting into retail made me stronger, healthier, and happier--go figure.

So, my question to you--if your 2002 self met you today, would she be surprised, happy, or ????

I love this post, Margie, kind of a reverse where-do-we-see ourselves.

Ten years ago I was unhappy in my work, mostly because I was burned out, so I'd taken a new job in a different field and was trying to find my way. I was still dreaming of writing romance, playing with it a little, but not really committing to it. I think my 10-year-ago self would be a little shocked with my life - I'm a published author now, a mom-via-adoption (i never really saw that as part of my life - who knew??), living in Ohio (really? Ohio??) and I love my husband more now than I did then.

Ten years ago, my daughter was still in high school, I wrote full time, but was unpubbed, and I had a full, busy life filled with 4-H activities. Today, I work retail, hate it so much, my daughter is not in college, but I am pubbed.I wish I could blend my life now and then. I wish I had my 4-H kids and activities, wrote full time and my daughter was in college.I love being pubbed! It is better than I hoped!

Maybe one day you'll be able to quit retail and support yourself with the publishing :) Maybe in the next ten years.

And I know what you mean about wanting your daughter in college. I wish Kristen had finished--although I'd be further in debt. That said, she's got a good job and potential career as a pharmacy tech and recently left retail for mail order. She has a cubicle and types scripts all day. No customers. Perfect for her.

I always have such high hopes and dreams for myself and for my children. Like a well-plotted novel, I think my 2002 self would be very surprised by some of the twists, turns, and rocky roads my life has endured. Though now that I am twice published, I can say that one of my most cherished dreams came true!